Maxwell's demon
noun Physics
A hypothetical being imagined as controlling a hole in a partition dividing a gas-filled container into two parts, and allowing only fast-moving molecules to pass in one direction, and slow-moving molecules in the other. This would result in one side of the container becoming warmer and the other colder, in violation of the second law of thermodynamics.
Origin
Late 19th century: named after J. C. Maxwell (see Maxwell, James Clerk).
- time-consuming
- time course
- time-critical
- time curve
- time delay
- time deposit
- time-depth
- time derivative
- time detector
- time difference
- time differential
- time dilatation
- time dilation
- time disc
- time disk
- time displacement
- time-distance
- time division
- time division multiplex
- time domain
- time draft
- time-drop
- time element
- Time-ese
- time-expired